THIEVES cashing in on the price of scrap metal have stolen around 100 crash barriers and 70 girders from a stock car track.

Police say a big truck was needed to remove the haul from the Barford stock car circuit at Streatlam near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Police said steel was fetching £1,150 a ton and copper £3,500 a ton when sold on and was leading to an increase in this type of crime all over the country.

Cyril Whitfield, the track operator, said: "They must have used a very big truck, with a big strong arm on it, to load all the metal, and they must have worked very quickly."

Despite the theft, though, he said he would still be able to clear up the site, and get other barriers in place, to ensure that a stock car meeting scheduled for this Sunday afternoon could still go ahead.

PC Tony Kent, of Barnard Castle Police, said: "The gang must have got into the site on Wednesday night. We are anxious to hear from anyone who saw a large wagon with a big lifting arm moving around this area.

"It is likely that the metal has been taken for its scrap value, but the thieves may well stockpile it for a while instead of trying to sell it right away.

"We would like to heard from anyone who comes across a large collection of girders and barriers hidden away in some part of the district, as they could be linked to this crime."

The officer urged any business which has stocks of metal to take extra precautions to protect it.

Anyone with information about the metal, or who saw a large vehicle moving in the area late on Wednesday or early yesterday, is asked to call PC Kent on 0845 6060365.